Title: Heat
Fandom: Trinity Blood
Pairing: Eventual Abel/Caterina, Abel/Uknamed-unknown female partners
Warnings: Het, can be viewed as Dub-Con situation, Wet dreams, violence
Spoilers: If you've even attempted to read the books/watch the anime you'll know what I'm talking about. Other than that, no main plot/story line spoilers. Just the characters that are introduced throughout the manga/anime are involved.
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Trinity Blood nor do I make any money on this. The only thing I get out of this is a few reviews and a possible pat on the back *sigh*
Summary: (Original posted summary lost due to bad modding on a different site.) Abel goes into heat.

No beta, if you want to PM me or something

Italics are Abel's personal thoughts.

Groaning, Abel rolled on the small bed, deep within sleep's thrall and dream's domain. Try as he might he couldn't pull himself from the forbidden images playing in his mind. Soft hands played across his chest, his own resting at the small of the woman's back. Thought he wanted nothing more than to push her away, to end the dream, he pulled her closer.

Carefully, he laid her back on the bed, her innocence showing in the blush across her skin. "I won't hurt you," he wanted it to stop. He tried to force himself back, away from her, but frail fingers curled in his hair.

"Then don't stop," panic washed through him as she looked up at him.

"Caterina…" No! Not this one, not this…child!

That was what freed him, he bolted upright in the bed, panting. Skin flushed, sweat dotting his brow, he curled his knees into his chest, grunting at the uncomfortable strain of his pants. "I hate this time of year…" It never failed. He should've paid closer attention to the signs, but with Sister Esther's appearance he'd put it in the back of his mind. He should be a million miles away from any female presents but here he was, in the middle of Rome.

Knocking sounded, causing him to shiver. "Father Nightroad?"

"Come in Tres," he gave a sigh when Father Tres was the only one behind the door.

"Father Nightroad, should you not be traveling at this time? Requesting reason as to why you are currently here?"

Abel gave another sigh. The only one he'd ever told about this little quirk had been Tres and that was because the machine could understand the scientific aspects of it but wouldn't judge him on any emotional level. "I haven't been assigned any orders and I can't very well ask for any. It would look suspicious."

"Again, requesting reason as to why you have not explained the situation to the Duchess of Milan? Given your current state it would cause fewer complications and get you assigned away from humans."

"Tres-kun… There are just some things that humans can't accept that machines can. Emotions get in the way of their acceptance. That's something even you should've learned by now."

"Positive Father Nightroad, repeat occurrence has led to similar findings. Case in point: you. If it is any assistance to finding a solution to your predicament, I have calculated that she well accept any scenario data 85% of the time. Consider telling her," with that Tres turned and left the room. Abel stared after him, dumbstruck.

"Well, you can't beat the facts," he tried to slip into the mask he wore so often, it didn't work. Frowning, he curled his hands around his knees, even after all that his body still hadn't calmed down. "Maybe… maybe it is time to tell her." She had been safe from him when she was younger. Regardless of drive, his body knew a child couldn't bare young, but she had been invading his dreams for the last few years. He knew he had to get away from her, maybe if she knew why she'd push him as far away as possible.

Finally after a near freezing shower and a change of clothes, Abel walked down the hall leading to Caterina's office. The door was open but he gave a knock before entering. The moment he walked in his skin felt like it was burning. He could smell her from the hall but now he was wrapped in her scent. This wasn't a good idea…but he forced himself toward her desk where Sister Kate was currently talking with her. "Could I have a moment alone with Caterina?"

"Oh, Abel… Uh, yeah, sure. I'll just," with that the hologram faded and disappeared.

"Abel? Is something wrong?" He bit down on his lip when she moved out from behind her desk. Not a good idea. He forced himself to stay still as she reached a gloved hand to his cheek. "You look as if you haven't slept well," he could feel the heat behind the glove, thanking God for small favors, that it wasn't bare. "And you're burning up. Are you ill?"

"Yes and no… Please, send me away. I may hurt someone," you, "if I stay here. Please Caterina…"

"If you're sick, why would I do that? I'll send for a doctor, the fever must be making you delusional."

"Damnit Caterina! I don't get sick! It's not a fever, or an illness, it's… it's… a cycle. Now please, get away from me. Sit down, stand, I don't care just get back away from me." He would be kicking himself for years after this little explanation, but the look on her face said that he got through to her.

"Alright… I'm back," he would've felt more relieved if she'd sat behind her desk rather than on it. "Continue."

Abel could feel an embarrassed blush spread across his cheeks, "I know you are too old to be told about Adam and Eve so I'll try to keep it short and simple… I need to get as far away from females as possible."

"Women…?" Abel couldn't help but chuckle. Perhaps she was too innocent for him to tell her this.

"Scientifically speaking, all creatures have a cycle… a… breeding cycle. Humans seem to be the… only exception…"

Understanding seemed to finally dawn on her, her face paled as she lowered her eyes. "Why haven't you told me of this… cycle before?"

"I've always been away… and… I didn't have to fear for you. Until a few years ago you were just a child, could you've understood?"

"I… suppose not." She sighed and rested a hand on her brow, "So… how often is this cycle?"

She was being serious now, he would be as well. He forced back the reactions as he sat in one of the chairs in front of her, resting his elbows on his knees. "Average is once a year… if it's been a rough one, physical damage, natural disasters that kind of thing, it skips a year. After the damage I had taken bringing Sister Esther here I thought it would skip but I have been well… nourished during the trip."

"How long does it last?" Abel smirked. She always changed the subject when discussing his eating habits.

"Depending on proximity… and conditions… anywhere from a week to a month. I'd guess I was on day two by how close I am to you, but then it could just be my stubbornness that allows me this close. The farther into it, the worse it gets."

"How… bad does it get?"

Abel looked up to see intrigue, rather than understanding, in her eyes. "Forgive me." He had to scare her, he just hoped he didn't freighten her away forever. In a flash, he had her pinned back toward the desk, he knew she could feel the heat radiating from his over amped body, even though he left her room enough to shy away. "I won't be able to control myself… I won't even be fit to be seen by humans," he could feel the Crusnik rising up, trying to free itself, trying to force him further. "I can barely keep myself from you… I will not let it force me on you or anyone else."

"Alright… I'll send you away. Let me up, Abel." He didn't want to. He could smell her scent, feel how cool her skin was in comparison to his. "Father Nightroad. Release me this instant," old habits, or perhaps the tone of her voice, was the only reason he instantly snapped back and away at the command.

"I… I… I'm…"

"Don't let it happen again," her eyes were cold as she ruffled around to find something in her desk. How could he think it would be mere years? It would be a lifetime of kicking and he'd still feel like a giant heel. "Here, an assignment to the North. It didn't seem too important at the time to send one of the AX but given your predicament, I suppose I could spare you a week's investigation."

"Yes, Milady…" He took the paper she offered him and turned to leave. "I'm, sorry," he whispered as he closed the door behind him. From here until eternity, he'd never forget the look in her eyes, nor would he forgive himself for being the cause of that look. He would leave as quickly as was possible, by any means, and hope the memory would fade with distance. Let her fear me, hate me even… It beats what I would have done if she hadn't startled me away. He packed what he had to have before bolting from the building, blindly heading North, away from her.

Abel settled into the seat of the empty compartment, he had counted himself lucky that he'd had enough money to buy a train ticket. The door slid open, giving him a start, Tres closed it behind him. "Father Nightroad, I was sent to accompany you," Abel could just shake his head, the train had left the station some ten minutes ago, only Father Tres. "You forgot to receive your funds as well," he set a small bag next to him before sitting in the opposite seat.

"I told her…" He got no reply, just Tres' usual blank, lost puppy eyes. "Did she ask you about it? Is that why she sent you?"

"Positive. The Duchess of Milan was not blunt in the asking but I informed her that I already knew."

"She always was a smart one," Abel just stared out the window at the passing trees.